Underwater release mechanism



Jan. 11, 1966 R. F. SNYDER 3,228,332

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.3

IN V EN TOR.

A T TORNE Y ROGER E SNYDER 3.

Jan. 11, 1966 v R. F. SNYDER 3,228,332

UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5a11H @lllh n 1 iii I as

: l lhii" FIG. 2 Q

ROGER E SNYDER INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fi ice 3,223,332 Patented Jan. 11, 19663,228,332 UNDERWATER RELEASE MECHANISM Roger F; Snyder, State College,Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Apr. 10, 1964, Ser. No.358,968 3 Claims. (Cl. 102-13) This invention relates to releasemechanisms and more particularly to automatic release mechanisms adaptedto release a Weight or the like in an underwater environment.

One use of release devices of this type is in the release of buoyantexperimental capsules containing scientific measuring instruments whichhave been Weighted by an anchor and dropped into a depth of water. Theanchor is attached to the bouyant capsule by means of the releaseniechanis'm of this invention, thus making the entire assembly heavierthan water. The weighted capsule then sinks in the water at apredetermined rate while automatically recording such scientificmeasurements as temperature, pressure, and the like. When the anchorstrikes the bottom, the impact causes the release mechanism to openthereby letting go of the bouyant capsule which floats to the surfaceand is retrieved. The scientific instruments may thereafter be removedfrom the capsule. Should the impact release mechanism fail to open whenthe anchor hits the bottom, a second release device incorporated intothe present invention will release the anchor when a water solubletablet dissolves in the water.

Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide amechanical automatic release device operable underwater, which Will betriggered by impact.

Another object is to provide a soluble tablet release device which Willautomatically release when the soluble tablet dissolves in water.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device toinsur'e therelease of an instrument package upon contact with the ocean floor,regardless of the fioors shape or consistency.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a simple, sure,safe, and etficient mechanical device which will operate well in anydepth of water.

The characteristic features of the present invention are particularlypointed out in the following description and appended claims,. taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings forming part of thisapplication in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of one embodiment of thisinvention in which the release device couples a buoyant instrumentpackage to an anchor.-

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the release mechanism as viewed from itsunderside.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the release mechanism taken along line3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation view of the release mechanism with the hasp inthe open position taken along lines 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an elevation view of the mechanism taken along line 55 ofFIGURE 4 with the side plate of the device removed and the hasp in theclosed position.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE 1, the numeralrepresents the release device as disclosed herein, attached to the lowerportion of a buoyant instrument package 12. Coupled to the releasedevice 10 is anchor 14 comprised of anchor rod 16 upon which are placeda number of weights 18.

Referring now to FIGURES 2-5, illustrating the embodiment 10 of thisinvention, 20 represents a housing having a top plate 22 and a sideplate 24. The housing 20 is generally of rectangular shape and has ahousing bore 26 extending vertically through the central portion thereofand a bifurcated side portion enclosing a slot 28 over which side plate24 is positioned by means of bolts 30. To the lower portion of housing20 is attached tablet release mechanism 32 and impact release mechanism34. Hasp 36 is supported at one end portion by tablet release mechanism32, and on the other end portion by impact release mechanism 34,positioned on the lower opposite side of housing 20 from tablet releasemechanism 32. Anchor rod 16 is suspended upon hasp 36 while top plate 22is attached to instrument package 12 by means of screws (not shown).

The tablet release mechanism 32 is comprised of two rectangular shapedmetal blocks 38 and 40 positioned in intimate contact with one anotherto form an interface 42. The lower portion of blocks 38 and 40 contain aslot 44 sufficiently wide to admit the end portion of hasp 36, throughwhich passes hasp pin 46. Hasp pin 46 passes through the interface 42contained within semicircular slots in blocks 38 and 40. A continuousrectangular link support 48 extends through the lower part of housing 20and passes through the upper portion of the interface 42 in a pair ofsemicircular slots. Vertically positioned aligning pins 50 extend intothe lower portion of housing 20 and into the upper portion of interface42 so as to allow blocks 38 and 40 to be properly aligned and positionedin relationship to housing 20 when the blocks are in intimate contactwith one another.

A bore 52 extends through the central portion of blocks 38 and 40perpendicular to the interface 42. Bore 52 contains an enlargedcounterbore 54 in the area directly adjacent to interface 42. Thiscounterbore 54 contains a compression spring 56 which tends to urgeblocks 38 and 40 apart.

A cylindrical shaped water soluble tablet 58 is positioned betweenwashers 60 on the outer side portion of block 38 from the interface 42.A bolt 62 extends through the bore 52, counterbore 54, tablet 58, andwashers 60 and has a nut 64 onits outermost portion. Nut 64 when screweduponbolt 62 forces water soluable tablet 5 8 and washers 60 to be drawnagainst the blocks 38 and 40 thereby compressing compression spring 56.As may be easily seen, if the tablet 58 is dissolved by water when themechanism 10 is submerged, compression spring 56 will force blocks 38and 40 apart thereby releasing rectangular link 48 as well as hasp pin46 and attached hasp 36.

The impact release mechanism 34 is comprised of ball 66 positionedwithin the lower part of housing bore 26 such that its lower portion isexposed directly above anchor bar 16. The ball 66 is retained in bore 26by means of seat 68 integrally attached to the lower portion of housing20. A cylindrical piston 70 extends vertically through bore 26 and ispositioned so that its lower portion is in continuous contact with ball66. A compression spring 72 is contained within bore 26 by the topportion of piston 70 and top cover 22 so as to urge piston 70 againstball 66.

A slideably positioned trigger bar 74 extends from slot 28 throughhousing 20 perpendicular to and into contact with piston 70. The centralportion of trigger bar 74 within slot 28 is attached to a release bar 76which is rotatably mounted to trigger bar 74 by means of a pin 78. Acompression trigger spring 80 is positioned around trigger bar 74forcing it into intimate contact with the side portion of piston 70. Thecentral portion of piston 70 has a reduced radius 82 therethroughdirectly adjacent to trigger bar 74 so that when piston 70 movesupwards, reduced radius 82 will be aligned with trigger bar 74 whichurged by trigger spring 80 will be forced into reduced radius 82.

The central portion of release bar 76 is pivotly attached to thebifurcated flanges of slot 28 by means of a pivot pin 84 about whichrelease bar 76 may rotate. The opposite end portion of release bar 76from that of trigger bar 74 has a perpendicularly positioned release pin86 therethrough which engages the end portion of hasp 36. A hasp spring88 attached to pin 46 bears on hasp 36 and block 40 so as to urge hasp36 to pivot about pin 46. Thus the rotation of release bar 76 about pin84 will cause release pin 86 to disengage hasp 36. Hasp 36 then rotatesabout hasp pin 46 to release anchor pin 16.

In operation, embodiment 10 of this invention is secured to instrumentpackage 12 by means of top plate 22 by screws (not shown) and anchor rod16 attached to hasp 36. The entire assembly is then released in thewater and begins to sink at a predetermined rate, While instrumentscontained within the instrument package 12 are recording scientificdata. When the anchor 14 strikes the bottom, the anchor rod 16 is forcedagainst ball 66 which in turn forces piston 70 upwards againstcompression spring 72. The reduced radius 82 of piston 7 aligns itselfwith trigger bar 74 which, urged by trigger spring 80, will enterreduced radius 82 area. The movement of trigger bar 74 will causeattached release bar 76 to rotate about pin 84 moving release pin 86 outof engagement with the end portion of hasp 36. Hasp 36 will then rotateabout hasp pin 46 urged by hasp spring 88 and release anchor rod 16. Thebuoyant instrument package 12 thus released will begin to ascend to thesurface where it is retrieved.

It may be noted that a premature release of the anchor 14 is notpossible in that during the descent the anchor rod 16 bears downwardpressure upon hasp 36 which is transmitted to pin 86 preventing it fromreleasing. When, however, anchor 14 strikes the bottom it releases thispressure from hasp 36 allowing it to release when triggered by impactrelease mechanism 34.

Should the impact release mechanism 34, previously described, fail tooperate, the entire assembly would remain anchored to the bottom. TheWater soluble tablet 58 is then dissolved by the water in apredetermined time thus allowing the compression spring 56 to forceblocks 38 and 40 apart thereby releasing hasp pin 46 and attached hasp36. The instrument package 12, thus released will ascend from the bottomin the manner previously described.

It should also be noted that soluble tablet 58 is one having apredetermined period of disintegration in water. This period ofdisintegration is so timed that the tablet will not dissolve and releasemechanism 32 prior to the time that anchor 14 strikes the bottom.

Although the particular embodiment of this invention has been describedwith a degree of exactness, it is to be understood that many variationsof this embodiment are possible without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Recovery apparatus, in combination, comprising;

(a) a buoyant object desired to be recovered from the floor of a body ofwater,

(b) a release device affixed to a lower portion of the buoyant object,

(c) an anchor weight depending from the release device adapted to bereleased from the release device when the anchor weight impacts thefloor of the body of water,

(d) said release device comp-rising a U-shaped member having upwardlyextending legs connected by a depending bight portion,

(e) the upper end of one of said legs being releasably pivoted to impactresponsive mechanism,

(f) the upper end of the other leg being releasably pivoted to watersoluble responsive mechanism,

(g) the bight of said U-shaped member being connected to said weight andadapted to release the latter when the U-shaped member is released fromeither of its upper ends,

(h) said anchor weight being operatively connected to the impactresponsive mechanism for actuating same upon impact of the anchor weightwith the floor of the body of water,

(i) said water soluble responsive mechanism being constructed andarranged to be actuated at a time after the anchor weight impacts thefloor of the body of water to thereby release the anchor weight in theevent of failure of operation of the impact responsive mechanism.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said impact responsivemechanism includes (j) triggering apparatus,

(k) a link affixed to the weight having its upper end engaging saidbight, the upper end of the link adapted to engage a portion of thetriggering apparatus and actuate same when the weight impacts the floorof the body of water and the buoyant object continues to move downwardlyby its inertia.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said water solubleresponsive mechanism includes (1) a pair of separable members releasablypivoted to said other leg, and

(m) a water soluble tablet securing said releasable members togetheruntil it dissolves.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,818,807 1/1958Tracey 102-13 2,904,369 9/1958 Campbell 1024 X 2,981,074 4/1961 Wilder294-83 3,139,032 6/1964 Silverstein 99 X BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, PrimaryExaminer.

SAMUEL W. ENGLE, Examiner.

1. RECOVERY APPARATUS, IN COMBINATION, COMPRISING; (A) A BUOYANT OBJECTDESIRED TO BE RECOVERED FROM THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER, (B) ARELEASE DEVICE AFFIXED TO A LOWER PORTION OF THE BUOYANT OBJECT, (C) ANANCHOR WEIGHT DEPENDING FROM THE RELEASE DEVICE ADAPTED TO BE RELEASEDFROM THE RELEASE DEVICE WHEN THE ANCHOR WEIGHT IMPACTS THR FLOOR OF THEBODY OF WATER, (D) SAID RELEASE DEVICE COMPRISING A U-SHAPED MEMBERHAVING UPWARDLY EXTENDING LEGS CONNECTED BY A DEPENDING BIGHT PORTION,(E) THE UPPER END OF ONE OF SAID LEGS BEING RELEASABLY PIVOTED TO IMPACTRESPNSIVE MECHANISM, (F) THE UPPER END OF THE OTHER LEG BEING RELEASABLYPIVOTED TO WATER SOLUBLE RESPONSIVE MECHANISM, (G) THE BIGHT OF SAIDU-SHAPED MEMBER BEING CONNECTED TO SAID WEIGHT AND ADAPTED TO RELEASETHE LATTER WHEN THE U-SHAPED MEMBER IS RELEASED FROM EITHER OF ITS UPPERENDS, (H) SAID ANCHOR WEIGHT BEING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE IMPACTRESPONSIVE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING SAME UPON IMPACT OF THE ANCHOR WEIGHTWITH THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER, (I) SAID WATER SOLUBLE RESPONSIVEMECHANISM BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO BE ACTUATED AT A TIME AFTERTHE ANCHOR WEIGHT IMPACTS THE FLOOR OF THE BODY OF WATER TO THEREBYRELEASE THE ANCHOR WEIGHT IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE OF OPERATION OF THEIMPACT RESPONSIVE MECHANISM.